Washington man sentenced for forcing teen into prostitution

KENNEWICK, Wash. — A 20-year-old Kent man has been sentenced to nearly four years in prison for forcing a 15-year-old girl into prostitution.The Tri-City Herald reports that Deepak S. Samra pleaded guilty in February to promoting prostitution, possessing naked pictures, third-degree assault and rendering criminal assistance. He was sentenced this week in Benton County to three years, eight months in prison.

Authorities say Samra's 17-year-old girlfriend helped him befriend the girl and force her to have sex for cash. The 17-year-old served time in a juvenile facility for promoting prostitution and her younger sister also served time for assaulting the victim.

Samra and his two underage accomplices were arrested in Kennewick after beating the 15-year-old victim in a 7-Eleven parking lot. Police found the victim bloodied and she told them about the prostitution when she was interviewed.